Council Oaks Steakhouse at the Hard Rock has better food then Bern's. Hard Rock will also have live sports book on the 16th of this month in person. Plenty of things to do around this week, but as always the case for the end of December weather will play a huge factor on whether you will be outdoors or indoors. Not so much the temps, but any possible rains that could damper things.
Plenty of restaurants to choose from in the downtown Tampa area without traveling to the other side of the bridge. Armature Works, Sparkman Wharf, SoHo, Hyde Park, Seminole Heights all have plenty to offer. Working at a downtown major hotel, the week of New Years will also escalate depending on which Big Ten team makes there way to the Outback Bowl, some teams travel waaaaay better then others. IE, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Minnesota. Does not matter which SEC team they play as they will not travel well at all since most of these schools are in cities where getting away from cold weather months not a factor.
Casino is "NOT" as smoky as one might say, poker room is completely smoke free and there is an area dedicated in the casino on the first floor that is completely smoke free. Zero comp drinks given to players, unless they are super VIP. Lots of things to do on both side of the bay...just a matter of if the Florida snow of rain hits during the week you are here.
Killer happy hours are the thing of the past in this market.....find a dive bar like the Hub in downtown or a couple of places in Ybor that could have somewhat of an happy hour.